Is it possible to get lymes in the Uk or a holiday?

[uk2]

Hi All

history

I am 33 years old singal mum of 3 girls. I had isolated pain of rib pain like painfull hug 6 yrs ago then nothing till Jan 2007, eye pain jerking eyes failed eye test at dr sent to neuro MRI done of brain and c spine. May 2007 go back as full body spasms from my face to my toes relentless (just had my 5th bout of that and 3 rd bout of painfull hug) so have LP negative then right hip goes numb so do pelvis MRI this only shows bulging disks at L4/5 and S1, refered to rheumy on NHS i am in the UK he says cant find what is wrong but not fibro, so i live it till 2008 when i go private ( somebody paid) and this rheumy said i had fibro took every pill, intensive physio,hydro (made me ill hate hot water or sun makes me ill yet i used to sit in it for ages now i get flu like and weak. get a rash over my nose and checks like sunburn but not.

go with dx of fibro for a year but in Jan 2009 another bout of the muscle spasm the rib hug and then a mth long on and off vertigo bout, off balance pressure behind boths eyes they take it in turn lol and a headache ( never suffered from them before) and other weird sensations that i just cant put down to fibro, so i end up in A&E or ER as you call it for the vertigo feb 5 th 2009 and he gives me full neuro work up and says i have hyper reflexes which i never had before on all my tests and write to dr as i have r sided numbness that comes and goes and tells her i need to see neuro, i believe i prob do have fibro i have neck,back and hip pain and IBS which all match but i also feel i have something else my r side so weak i am regisered disabled and cant work now and spent nearly all this year so far in bed!!! with flare after flare that why i am being retested with MRi and also going to an ENT next week, i posted on the MS site and somebody there said to check out the lyme community as my sx seem simular to that, my dr nevr tested for lymes and i cant remember ever being bittian except in the south of france when i was 13 and reacted bad and took 1 mth to heal but i cant see that related, so do we get ticks in england that carry lymes?

I have been to south of france,spain,calafornia,florida and miami and montana could i of been bittian then dont remember it.

any advise would be greatly received.

sam

[uk2]

carolyn

thanks for reply i've sent you a PM

patsy

I had a ANA test which was normal i think thats too test for lupus, never had a lyme test my DR seen no need for it or the neuro.

My dr feels too i have too much going on for fibro hence going for another neuro and tests, as for tender points the NHS rheumy said no but the private rheumy said yes and i think i was so sore and desperate for a dx that i got one that was not right or maybe it was but there is something else going on i know many who have MS also have fibro.

take care. sam

[ukinvb]

Hi there,

absolutely it is possible.  Many can go undiagnosed for long periods before the bacteria is "triggered" as such. I am from the UK but live in the US not sure where I was bitten but lots of info online regarding lyme disease and UK.  I am aware of one doctor in particular that I will have to look into that is in Wales and treats lyme disease.  It is much like here as far as the difficulty in diagnosis and also finding lyme literate Drs if you mail me I can send you his info when I have it in my hands.  I am now looking at an MS diagnosis as my lyme went unchecked for soooo long.  This is not always the case it can mimic other diseases but my lyme doc and neuro are wanting to investigate the MS diagnosis.  I will then be treating both.  My heart goes out to you.  I know how tough it is.  Know you can get through this.  I too was a single mom and I know it is tough and especially with your issues.  feel free to write any time with questions for me.  take care,  God Bless,

Carolyn

[patsy10]

Welcome.  You could have been bitten in the US or Europe.  There is lyme in Europe.  It is documented.  Less than half of people remember being bitten or see a rash.

Your symptoms are very similar to mine.  I've had numbness, weakness, trouble walking, hyper reflexes etc...and like you all my neuro tests including LP have come back normal.  I also got the fibro diagnosis from a couple docs.  Others said I had way too much going for it to be fibro.

I personally think you have way too many symptoms for it to be fibro.  But I am not a doctor.  People often get diagnosed with things like fibro when doctors don't know what it is but feel it needs a label.  Do you have 11 out of 18 tender points?  This is required for diagnosis here in the US.

The other thing you described was the red rash on your cheeks and face.  That sounds like the rash people can get with lupus.  Have you been checked for it?  Have you had a lyme test?